Underneath, here is how the magic works: Parallels Desktop tells the Mac that it can open “.exe” files. So when you double click on that “.exe” file, the macOS ® launches Parallels Desktop. This is just like when you double click on a “.jpg” file and the macOS launches Preview, or when you double click on a “.docx” file and the. This wikiHow teaches you how to run Windows' executable (EXE) files on a Mac. To do so, you can either install WINE, which is free software, or install Windows 8 or 10 using your Mac's Boot Camp feature.

Open Exe On Mac Free
Open Exe On Mac

An exe file extension is traditionally used for main executable files since the times of MS-DOS. It was adopted for executables in Windows as well. Executables are files that launch programs.

There is one other file type using
the EXE file extension!

.exe - Self-extracting compressed file archive

Software that open exe file

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EXE file extension- Program executable

What is exe file? How to open exe files?

File type specification:

exe file icon:

The exe file extension is traditionally used for program executable file since the time of first DOS. There are several versions of this file format, but all serve the same purpose - to start a program.

EXE format was, and still is utilized in many operating system, including MS-DOS, Windows, OS/2, OpenVMS and others. These files can be found in 16-bit, 32-bit as well as 64-bit versions.

Pretty much every program has one or more executables to start it, as such it is probably one of the most used file formats.

In addition to executable code, .exe files can also contain various other data, such as program icons. For example self-extracting archives (such as RAR), use exe file extension for the first part, because it also contains the executable code.

Warning: Executables are also used to spread trojans and other malicious programs. Always be careful when opening unknown exe file as this can infect or alter the settings of your system.

MIME types:

application/octet-stream
application/x-msdownload
application/exe
application/x-exe
application/dos-exe
vms/exe
application/x-winexe
application/msdos-windows
application/x-msdos-program

Updated: August 5, 2021

The default software associated to open exe file:

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

A family of operating systems developed by the Microsoft Corp. The first Windows was released in 1985 as a GUI add-on to MS-DOS. MS-DOS based Windows versions were developed to 2000, when was released the last version called Windows ME. Windows based on NT core started in 1993. Windows NT family are developed to these days, the latest version is called Windows 10.

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) used to create applications for Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, .NET Framework, Silverlight as well as dynamic websites and web applications. Visual Studio is available for Windows and Mac.

Help how to open:

Double-clicking on exe file results in starting the program they are created for.
Do not open unknown *.exe files as these can harm your computer.
Some executables might also be decompiled with specialized software.

How to convert:

There are some options how to export *.exe files to other formats.

Find conversions from exe file:

Find converter to exe file type:

File identification strings:

HEX code: 4D 5A
ASCII code: MZ

List of software applications associated to the .exe file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open exe file, edit exe file, convert exe file, view exe file, play exe file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting exe files.

Software that open exe file - Program executable

Programs supporting the exension exe on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open exe file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with exe file by default:
Microsoft Windows
Other suggested software:
Microsoft Windows 10
Microsoft Windows 8
Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
Microsoft Windows 3.x

EXE file extension- Program executable

What is exe file? How to open exe files?

The default software associated to open exe file:

Related articles:

Help how to open:

How to convert:

Find conversions from exe file:

Find converter to exe file type:

File identification strings:

List of software applications associated to the .exe file extension

Software that open exe file - Program executable

Microsoft Windows:

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Open Exe On Mac Free

Multiplatform:

Microsoft MS-DOS:

Open Exe On Mac

Other operating systems or devices: